Last night, 13 First Prizes were handed out as an idea developed by a team from Kingston University for IKEA won them the Student of the Year Prize at this year’s D&AD Student Awards.

IKEA, which were the sponsors of the event, challenged students to ‘inspire a wave of boundless change in people’s homes by promoting the new IKEA catalogue’.

The team consisting of Jessica Reynolds and Serena Wise answered the brief with a comprehensive campaign which would allow consumers the chance to browse the catalogue by colours, and create swatches which would play with colour combinations.

Greg Quinton, chairman of D&AD Education, commented; “Like the original concept of flat pack brand Ikea, the colourwheel idea was brilliant by simply and boldly challenging the conventions of the day. Organising the site by colour and product not only creates an elegant navigation system but makes the product the hero.  It helps with cross selling and importantly brings back multi-pack of fun to the brand.”

Alongside the 13 First Prizes awarded, there were 28 second prizes and 44 commendations made to students from across Europe, Asia and North America.

Other winners on the day included a team from Brigham Young University in the United States who won a First for their response to the Dorito’s challenge to make an entertaining TV ad., while a First also went to a team from the University of Central Lancashire for their take on brand design consultancy, answering a writing brief from Elmwood to position ‘Builder’s Tea’ at the heart of British life. 

A team from Mexico’s Centro de Diseño Cine y Televisión won a First for the New British Design sponsored Furniture Design Brief and a team from the University of Leeds were awarded in Moving Image from onedotzero for their exploration of the constantly changing nature of cities.

Check out the D&AD Student Awards site to see some of the winning work.